²¹ One who ^(A)despises his neighbor sins,
But ^(B)one who is gracious to the ^[a]poor is blessed.
²² Will they who ^(C)devise evil not go astray?
But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.
²³ In all labor there is profit,
But ^[b]mere talk leads only to poverty.
²⁴ The ^(D)crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is simply foolishness.
²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,
But one who ^(E)declares lies is ^[c]deceitful.
²⁶ In ^[d](F)the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And ^[e]his children will have refuge.
^27 [f]The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
By which one may avoid the snares of death.
²⁸ In a multitude of people is a king’s glory,
But in the scarcity of people is a prince’s ruin.
²⁹ One who is ^(G)slow to anger has great understanding;
But one who is ^[g]quick-tempered exalts foolishness.
³⁰ A ^(H)tranquil heart is life to the body,
But jealousy is ^(I)rottenness to the bones.
³¹ One ^(J)who oppresses the poor taunts ^(K)his Maker,
But one who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
³² The wicked is ^(L)thrust down by his own wrongdoing,
But the ^(M)righteous has a refuge when he dies.
³³ Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
But among fools it is made known.
³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a disgrace to any people.
³⁵ The king’s favor is toward a ^(N)servant who acts wisely,
But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.